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AssemblyInsight on the Scriptures, Volume 1
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Importance of Assembling. The importance of taking full advantage of Jehovah’s provisions for assembling to gain spiritual benefits is emphasized in connection with the annual Passover observance. Any male who was clean and was not on a journey but who neglected to keep the Passover was to be cut off in death. (Nu 9:9-14) When King Hezekiah called inhabitants of Judah and Israel to Jerusalem for a Passover celebration, his message was, in part: “You sons of Israel, return to Jehovah . . . do not stiffen your neck as your forefathers did. Give place to Jehovah and come to his sanctuary that he has sanctified to time indefinite and serve Jehovah your God, that his burning anger may turn back from you. . . . Jehovah your God is gracious and merciful, and he will not turn away the face from you if you return to him.” (2Ch 30:6-9) Willful failure to attend would certainly have indicated a forsaking of God.
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AssemblyInsight on the Scriptures, Volume 1
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Additionally, there were three annual “seasonal festivals of Jehovah”: the Festival of Unfermented Cakes, the Festival of Weeks (later called Pentecost), and the Festival of Booths (Le 23), respecting which festivals God decreed: “On three occasions in the year every male of yours will appear before the face of the true Lord, Jehovah.” (Ex 23:14-17) Recognizing the high spiritual value of these festivals, many men saw to it that their entire family attended. (Lu 2:41-45) Also, Moses expressly stated that every seven years, during the Festival of Booths, the men, women, children, and alien residents of Israel should be congregated in the place Jehovah chose “in order that they may listen and in order that they may learn, as they must fear Jehovah your God and take care to carry out all the words of this law.” (De 31:10-12) Hence, provision was made for the Israelites to assemble very frequently to consider Jehovah’s Word and purposes.—See FESTIVAL.
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